Friday, 17 June 2011

Village Festival, Classic Cars and Pop up Caravans!

Last weekend was my little Village's annual Village Festival. I worked out that I haven't been to to this, despite having lived there for a very very long time, for about 10 years!!! (when I was a girl guide and was in the parade through the village!) But this year, after I finished my degree last year and actually remembered it was on, I decided to pop along. I also wanted to make sure I went as every year the Basingstoke Classic Car Club (try saying that quickly!) display all their finest and most beautiful vintage cars - who knows they might come in handy for future Betty Blue's photo shoots!

So armed with my camera my parents and I walked down, which turned out to be silly as the sun decided to come out for once and by the time I got there I was all hot and bothered and my shoes rubbed :s......but we shouldn't complain about the sunshine as it doesn't happen often. So being all hot and bothered my first port of call was the Pimms tent! I was slightly outraged to have to pay £3 for my Pimms as it was in a manly plastic beer mug AND only half full, but I guess things have gone up in price. My anger soon faded though when I caught sight of the Garlic Farm stall. I visited the Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight last summer when I was on my "Glamping Staycation" at Vintage Vacations, and picked up the most delicious smoked garlic whilst there. So I trotted off and bought some more smoked garlic mmmmm - I say I bought it but in reality I made my Dad buy it for me :) teehee. Will have to look out the cook book I bought from them on the Isle of Wight to see what to make with it.

Me standing next to a pretty car Pimms in hand!

A lot of the other stalls were a bit rubbish, the usual tombolas and raffles for the local schools and various charity stalls. I was tempted to go over to the Help the Heroes; an outfit I am working on is inspired by WWII so it would be nice to give something back for the inspiration to a modern War Heroes Charity. But since the outfit is still in the making I didn't in the end. So I headed to the pretty cars! Here are a selection of my favourites.

View of all the cars some not quite so "Vintage" as others

Gorgeous sporty looking car

1930's Car - I like to think it would be in an episode of Poirot or Miss Marple

And my absolute favourite because it looks like a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car and was beautifully restored

Not the best pic with a lamp post in the way!

Oh how I long for one of the above beautiful classic cars! But oh well maybe one day! I also came across some pop up caravans. Yes you read that POP UP CARAVAN!!! I saw a programme about these ages ago and apparently they were very popular in the 50's as they hook on to your car and transform into a little caravan really quickly and easily and can be stored at home relatively easily too; alot smaller than traditional caravans. They were also a cheaper option to staying in hotels or holiday camps as you could use them over and over again...........although I have my doubts that they would survive a British torrential downpour.

The outside of one - you can see the tiny bed and cooker :)

They sort of fold in the middle and go flat when you store them - God knows how they stay up!

Inside of a slightly different one complete with the much needed picnic hamper
(you can also just see the corner of a ceramic sink!! bottom left)

I want a beautiful classic car one day, but I want a pop up caravan even more!!!!! It strikes me this would be really useful for when I go to Goodwood! I love camping in a tent but since I am going to be manning my stall for four days in a row a little relaxation in a mini caravan would suit me much better (I have M.E so sleep is a huge issue for me)...........anyone have one I could borrow or know where I could hire a pop up caravan!?!?!?

Anyway enough of my ramblings. I shall leave you with the exciting news that my production slot at the factory has been booked and confirmed and I can tell you that the 1st Betty Blue's Loungerie items will be being made in Wales in the second week of July sqeeeee